Suggested Cold Weather Guidelines

Suggested Cold Weather Guidelines

I have spent a good amount of time within the last 2 weeks fueled no doubt by self-preservation researching the topic of safe temperatures for youth players to be playing outdoors in the winter. The development of an increasing number of Astroturf facilities combined with a competitive (almost insane desire) to train year round seems to have led to more and more teams training in subzero temperatures. The dynamic is made more difficult for the thousands of teams using a professional trainer. The Team manager with the attitude of we pay for this so it must happen tends not to listen to the professional trainer who explains it is not educationally suitable. In this situation commonsense and hopefully the guidance give below can help.

Please remember that even with the most active 1v1, 2v2 small sided practice in the world, with zero standing around there becomes a time and temperature when it is simply child cruelty to stay outside and practice.

I have been amazed over the last few years to witness sessions in frigid temperatures where kids are made to stand in line, wait for a turn and then stand and listen for 5 minutes while some misguided coach explains the technical flaws. I have been also shocked when teams play and train and frozen grass where any fall can easily lead to fractures.

Please use the table below and a good dose of common sense before either scheduling a practice outdoors or sending your child off to freeze.

A note about wind chill - The wind chill temperature is how cold people feel when outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder and poses a more severe threat to our bodies.